Baltit Fort and old Karimabad

Baltit Fort sits on a rocky spur above Karimabad, with the Ultar glacier behind it and the Hunza valley opening out below. It was the residence of the Mirs of Hunza until the mid-1940s, when the family moved to a newer palace further down the hill and the old building began to decay.

Restoration led by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture was completed in the 1990s, and the fort now operates as a museum. The visit pairs the fort's rooms, timber detailing and rooftop views with a slow walk through the surrounding historic settlement, which was stabilised alongside the fort.